Swazi Observer

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STAFF PETITIONS ESWACAA OVER ‘UNFAIR’ PROMOTIONS

By FORTUNE NDLANGAMANDLA | 2020-01-27

EMPLOYEES under the Eswatini Civil Aviation Authority (ESWACAA) air rescue and fire fighting department have petitioned the management over what they (staff) view as unfair promotions.

The aggrieved staff are crucial at the country’s airports as their tasks and responsibilities include providing fire fighting, rescue, fire protection, emergency medical services as well as responding to all aircraft emergencies.

ESWACAA is a statutory body that was established through an Act of Parliament, the Civil Aviation Authority Act No.10 of 2009, and became operational on December 7, 2009.

The authority manages all airports in the Kingdom of Eswatini, namely; King Mswati III International Airport and Matsapha International Airport.

On January 14, the fire officers wrote to Director Airports Bongani Lukhele, registering their grievances which saw 11 trainee air rescue officers being promoted. The staff wanted the recent promotions to be declared null and void.

Caught in the middle of these promotions are ESWACAA Director Human Capital John Nsibandze and Lukhele who together with management were accused of failure to comply with company policy on promotions.

Disgruntled employees asked management to rescind the new appointments forthwith until internal processes to promote officers in the workplace were followed.

implored

The management was implored to respond to the allegations within seven days, failing which they (staff) would be forced to take further action. Eswatini Observer understands that the seven days elapsed on Wednesday and management has not responded.

“We would like to express our displeasure with the failure by management to follow due procedures in the promotion of various officers in the department.

It has come to our attention that there has been a mass promotion of officers within the department without following the company policies for the filling of internal vacancies.

It is not clear what criterion was used in effecting the appointments,” claimed the workers.

The workers further explained that this had caused an unhealthy industrial climate in the department and that it was unfair to the rest of the employees who had not been given a chance to compete for the vacant positions that exist within the department.

The employees continued to add that the act by ESWACAA was against the spirit of climate survey outcomes wherein management was expected to conduct all organisational activities in compliance with the relevant policies.

When ESWACAA Director Human Capital Nsibandze was contacted, he stated that issues of staff movement were internal and between the employer and the employee (s) concerned.

“Unfortunately, I do not have a mandate to discuss individual employees’ issues with the media. I am sorry I can’t answer any questions in relation to staff matters,” Nsibandze said.

On the other hand, the Eswatini Observer is also aware that the workers also alleged that the newly-appointed chief fire officer is under qualified for the position. According to a memorandum seen by the publication, on January 8, Airport Manager Bhekithemba Hlatshwayo wrote to Nsibandze praying that the vacancy should be filled after the retirement of Raymond Vilakati.

recommended

The letter was also copied to Nsibandze. Among other things, in the memo, Hlatshwayo recommended that Vusi Simelane, who has been holding the position on acting basis, should be confirmed with effect from January 1, 2020. He also mentioned that should his recommendation be approved, he would recommend that at or around July, ESWACAA kick-starts the recruitment of a chief fire officer designate as Simelane was set to retire at the end of December.

In the letter, Hlatshwayo also said; “ESWACAA policy requires that the position be first advertised internally, before it can be advertised externally. However, management has a duty to be alive to the prevailing situation and decide accordingly.”

mentioned

He mentioned that following the redeployment of the former Acting Chief Officer Isaac Gamedze, to another portfolio within ESWACAA, Vusi Zachariah Simelane acted on the position.

Hlatshwayo explained that Simelane was paid acting allowance, after the statutory period of six months; he has been on added responsibility allowance (which is slightly less than an acting allowance).

“He has been very useful; hence we recommended that his acting appointment be extended pending the condition of Vilakati,” Hlatshwayo said. He also explained that the chief fire officer position has been vacant since 2016 when Vilakati retired upon attaining 60 years.

He said the delay to appoint a substantive chief fire officer has delayed developments within the department since there was no one to take decisions on critical matters, as the acting officers were uncomfortable with taking and making decisions not knowing their future position.

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